Why had her father saddled her upon them?
Life was difficult enough before.

Passionately she began to think of her threat to Arthur.

It had been the merest 'idle word.' But why shouldn't she realize it--why not 'run away'?
There was work to be done, and money to be earned, by any able-bodied girl.

And perhaps then, when she was on her own, and had proved that she was not a child any longer, Arthur would respect her more, take more interest in her.
'What do you prophesy ?' said Elizabeth suddenly, addressing Arthur Chicksands, who seemed to be asleep in the grass.

'Will it end--by next summer ?' 'What, the war ?' he said, waking up.